Coleus plant named ‘UF0646’

ABSTRACT

‘UF0646’ is a new  coleus  plant distinguished by having excellent red-magenta color in both sunny and shady locations. It appears more rose-red under high light intensities, and has exceptional branching and growth habit, and good sun and heat tolerance. It has desirable characteristics that allow it to retain its leaves in the garden landscape for an extended period of time during the normal growth season compared to most  coleus  varieties. It is an excellent variety for commercial production due to excellent adventitious rooting characteristics of vegetative propagules (cuttings), and subsequent vigorous growth in greenhouse conditions. ‘UF0646’ has proven to be an excellent performing variety in preliminary outdoor trials across the United States, and should be an excellent choice to add vibrant long lasting annual red color to gardens across the United States, Canada, and Europe.

Genus and species: Solenostemon scutellarioides.

Variety denomination: ‘UF0646’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a new and distinct variety of coleus plant named ‘UF0646’. ‘UF0646’ originated from an open pollination conducted in March 2006 in Gainesville, Fla. between the female coleus plant ‘Elfers’ (unpatented) and an unknown male coleus plant. A single seedling was chosen in March 2006 for further asexual propagation in Gainesville, Fla.

‘UF0646’ has been reproduced asexually for over three and one-half years through vegetative cuttings and has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations via vegetative cuttings.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have been applied for in Canada on Mar. 13, 2009. ‘UF0646’ has not been made publicly available more than one year prior to the filing date of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of ‘UF0646’ when grown under normal horticultural practices in Gainesville, Fla.

-   -   1. Excellent color for both sunny and shady locations, but         appears more rose-red under high light intensities;     -   2. Exceptional branching and growth habit;     -   3. Foliage retention for an extended period of time; and     -   4. Good sun and heat tolerance.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new coleus plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the plant's form and foliage. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs were taken from 3-month-old plants grown from cuttings in 1 gallon pots during summer 2009 in Gainesville, Fla.

FIG. 1 shows the growth habit, form, and foliage of the instant plant.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the foliage.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘UF0646’. The detailed description was taken on 3-month-old plants from cuttings, growing in a greenhouse in 1 gallon pots in Gainesville, Fla. in summer 2009. The plants were pinched one month after cutting. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 2001 Edition.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Lamiaceae.         -   Botanical.—Solenostemon scutellarioides.         -   Common name.—Coleus.         -   Variety name.—‘UF0646’. -   Plant description:     -   -   Form.—Upright.         -   Habit.—Medium with uniform branching.         -   Height (from top of soil).—120.0 cm.         -   Width (horizontal plant diameter).—80.0 cm. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cuttings.—Vegetative meristems having at least 2 nodes.         -   Time to initiate roots.—7 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—14 days.         -   Root habit.—Freely branching.         -   Root description.—Callus forms in 3 to 5 days, roots             initiate in 7 days and become a highly branched cutting in             14 days. -   Branches:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—12 to 15 per plant, pinched once.         -   Branch color.—RHS 187B (Greyed-purple).         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Pubescence.—Absent.         -   Stem description.—Square-shaped stem, 1.6 cm in diameter at             the soil line.         -   Branch diameter.—0.5 cm at the base of a 35.0 cm long             branch.         -   Branch length.—35.0 cm.         -   Internode length.—6.0 cm.         -   Anthocyanin.—RHS 187B (Greyed-purple). -   Leaves:     -   -   Quantity of leaves per branch.—14 to 16.         -   Arrangement.—Opposite pairs of leaves per node, nodes             arranged perpendicular to each other.         -   Fragrance.—Absent.         -   Shape.—Rounded-acute.         -   Length.—12.0 cm.         -   Width.—7.0 cm.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Rounded.         -   Margin.—Crenate.         -   Leaf texture (both surfaces).—Slightly pubescent;             velvet-like upper surface.         -   Pubescence color (both surfaces).—RHS 187B (Greyed-purple).         -   Venation color.—Upper surface: RHS 46C (Red). Lower surface:             RHS 187B (Greyed purple).         -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.         -   Color, mature and immature leaf.—Upper surface: RHS 46C             (Red). Lower surface: RHS 187B (Greyed-purple).         -   Petiole length.—3.5 cm to 4.0 cm.         -   Petiole diameter.—0.3 cm.         -   Petiole color.—RHS 187B (Greyed-purple). -   Flowers and seeds: Flowers and seeds have not been observed. -   Disease and insect resistance: Disease and insect resistance is     typical of the species.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

When ‘UF0646’ is compared to the female parent ‘Elfers’ (unpatented), ‘UF0646’ has uniform red-magenta leaves, while ‘Elfers’ has multicolored leaves of maroon, pink, and green, with spots of yellow.

When ‘UF0646’ is compared to the commercial variety ‘BIG RED JUDY’ (patent status unknown), ‘UF0646’ has a less vigorous and more compact branching habit than ‘BIG RED JUDY’. Also, ‘UF0646’ has smaller leaves with brighter and more stable color in sun and shade, and drops its leaves later in the season than ‘BIG RED JUDY’. Additionally, ‘UF0406’ has brighter red foliage color than ‘BIG RED JUDY’, which makes it stand out in the garden in side-by-side comparisons. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Coleus plant as shown and described herein. 